1988 E30 BMW 318I 4Cyl 1.8L Auto

This is my Daily Driver while I finish my current Project (Ford Probe GT ) and sell my Honda Inspire (Showcar). I am selling the Honda Inspire to raise some Funds to pay some Debts & Loans & then whatever is left I will use to do more Work on this (major work will be done when the Probe is ready to drive so I can take this off the road and not worry about Transport) - this page will be Updated whenever I do work on this.

So for now, just some simple mods to make it a lil bit different until $$ allows me to go a bit more hardcore on it.

My aim is to look "SHADY" - hence the custom decal!
'Black & Chrome' is the Theme!

For starters, it all began when I didnt like the original paint, which was all faded,  scratched, peeling and dented - my mates then prepped it & painted it for me which didnt quite work (was meant to be gloss black but came out looking matt black).
I am only going to do small stuff to it for now, just whatever I can when ever I can. I am going to try to do as much of the work myself, along with the help of some friends when they can help (bribery helps sometimes) - so most work will be done by myself (see page 4 for photos of work I have done myself & page 3 for photos of the car - photos updated often as more work is completed). Most will be D.I.Y Jobs (until I can afford the Genuine Aftermarket Parts - like the lights - see page 4).

I am also going to replace original bits here & there that are damaged or missing (have already replaced a few items so far - just to try make the car "Complete" before any major work).

Most of the work listed below as "Completed" was done by myself. But my mates painted it and bogged up the dents etc. Everything else I done myself, so far. May get help if I get stuck on certain jobs - slowly learning to do as much as I can myself.

MODIFICATIONS / WORK COMPLETED SO FAR

Interior:-

-Various Plastic Interior bits Painted Silver.
-Leather Front Seat Covers (came with the car).
-Brand New LED Brake Light in Rear Window (High-Stop).
-Alloy Gearknob.
-Red & Black Sports Steering Wheel.
-BMW Horn Button.
-Metal E30 Bosskit.
-Replaced Boot Rubber Seal.
-Chrome Alloy Knobs x2:- Window Wipers & Indicator Stalks.
-Chrome Handbrake Cover.
-Black Sprayed Parcel Tray with Silver Painted Vents.
-Fire Extinguisher in Passenger Footwell.
-Black Sprayed Material on Door Trims.
-20% Window Tints all round.
-TYPE R- Sunglasses Holder & Chrome Thermometer Gauge.
-New Glovebox & Understeering Wheel Panel.

I.C.E:-

-SONY XPLOD CD Player.
-2x 12" 1000W Vibrant Subs in Custom Box.
-Fusion 2Ch Amp. 
-2x 500W 3Way Component Speakers (Performance  Teknique) in Black Carpetted Boxes on Parcel Shelf. (Might get Custom Spacers made up in the future so I can put the rear headrests back in).
-2x Chrome Rocket Shaped Tweeters  (Performance  Teknique) attached to Interior Mirror Covers.

Exterior:-

-Re-Sprayed "Matt Black".
-All dents bogged up. Boot Badge smoothed off. Front badge removed. Aerial completely removed as it didn't work.
-Removed Rear NumberPlate Plastic Surround.
-New Front Chrome Grill.
-Repainted Front Grills - Gloss Black.
-Silver Painted Double Bladed Wipers.
-2x 8Ball Licence Plate Bolts on the Front.
-Chrome Front Numberplate Frame.
-Silver Painted:- Petrol Cap + Vents below Windscreen. 
-Black Plastic Eyelids.
-Black Rubber A/M Boot Lip.
-Chrome Window Washer Covers.
-Bare Metal Petrol Flap Clear Coated.
-Bare Metal Door Handles x4 Clear Coated.
-Bare Metal Wiper Arms x2 Clear Coated.
-Black Windscreen Banner.
-Custom "SHADY" Decal on back Window in Silver with Black Vinyl of both sides.
-2x Silver "F.T.P" Decals on the rear 1/4 Side Windows.
-Chrome "NZ-BMW" Decals on Rear Side Windows (Car Club).

Lighting Related:-

-'AllRed' Taillights.
-'Smoked' Headlights (Low & High Beams).
-Black Painted Headlight Rings x4
-'Super Bright White' Bulbs x4.

Engine & Performance:-

-Big Stainless Steel Muffler (XFORCE) with TwinTips - It Is NOT Loud.
-Silver Painted:- Oil Cap, Radiator Cap, Strut Bolt Caps, Covers Behind Headlights, Wiring Loom Cover.
-Completely Removed AirCon System (Pump, Condensor, Pipes, Fan & Radiator) - doing parts under the dash later when I can be bothered.
-NEW Fanbelt & Power Steering Belt.
-NEW Oil Sump Pan Seals (Top & Bottom).

Suspension & Wheels:-

-Gloss Black Painted Brake Calipers & Hubs.
-Factory 14" Alloys with Brand New Tyres all around.
-17" Rims painted Black with Tyres all around.
-JAMEX Lowering Springs & Removed Rear Spring Pads- 2" Drop All Round.

                         THE TO DO LIST_________________________

These Modifications will be done, as time & money allows.
Most cannot be done until I sell my Honda Inspire.
So once that is sold, any major work will begin.

Interior Related:-

-4x 8Ball Door Lock Pins.
-All Silver Painted bits will be replaced or paint removed then Chromed.
-Plastic Speedo Cluster Surround will be Chromed.
-Custom Made Steel Pedal Covers.
-KAVASS Car Alarm (waiting to be installed).
-4x Chrome Plastic Instrument Cluster Rings (Speedo/Revs/Fuel/Temp).
-New Front Seats (mint factory seats or reclinable buckets - undecided yet).
-Rear seat will be Retrimmed to match Front Seats.
-New Complete Carpet & Mats.
-35% Tinted Rear Window.
-Electric Window Button Surrounds x4 (Chromed Metal).
-Head Lights-On Pull Knob (Chromed Metal).
-Hazard & Window Heat Button Surrounds (Chromed Metal).
-Black Fluffy Material glued to Underside of Boot Lid.
-Dynamat Installed thru-out the Car (Doors, Boot, etc) - will be done when I strip car for repaint.

I.C.E Related:-

-Sub Box Fully Retrimmed in Black Carpet.
-Speaker Boxes for Speakers on the Parcel Tray.
-ALL Wiring Hidden (everything will be reinstalled when I take car off the road sometime next year & fully get into it, so no wires will be visible) not important at the moment so it can wait for now.

Exterior Related:-

-Completely Strip Car Down. Remove all:- Front Panels, Foors, Boot Lid, Bonnet & Bumpers - etc.
Prep every panel seperately:- Sand & Bog & Sand & then once  everything finally done including Roof & Rear Panels:- Tow Coats 'Primer'. Three Coats 'Matt Black' & Two Coats 'Clear'. Will be Professionally Painted in a proper Painting Booth.
-Smooth off Both Front Door Locks (use Boot Lock to Lock/Unlock).
-Smooth off Plastic Strips that go along both sides of the car.
-Weld Patch over Aerial Hole.
-Fit a Body Kit.
-Fit a Towbar and add a Chrome Ball Cover.
-Chromed Double Bladed Wipers.
-Chrome Vents moulded onto Front Gaurds.
-The Following Parts Will Be Chromed which car is in bits being Prep'ed for Paint:-
All Door Window Frames + Original Chrome Re-Chromed + Vents below Front Windscreen + Wiper Arms + Petrol Flap & Door Handles (everything will be paint stripped or acid dipped & then Chromed).

Lighting Related:-

-Chrome Half Covers for the Headlights (x4).
-Angle Eye Chrome Headlights - Complete Assembly (will buy when $ allows).
-Real A/M Smoked Tail Light Lens (will buy when $ allows).
-Get Reverse Lights Working Again.
-Install Front Spotlights.
-Real A/M Smoked Front Indicators & Side Repeaters (will buy when $ allows). 
-ALL Parklights x2 + Spotlights x2 + Reverse Lights x2 + Numberplate Lights x2:- ALL Replaced with "Ultra White" Bulbs.
-ALL Indicators x6:- Replaced with "Ultra Orange" Bulbs.
-ALL Brake Lights x2:- Replaced with "Ultra Red" Bulbs.
-White Speedo Cluster Bulbs.
-Ultra White Interior Bulbs x2.
-Install another Boot Light = Total of 2 - (1x Per Side). 
-2x Ultra White Bulbs for the Boot.

Engine & Performance Related:-

-Have the entire Underbody & Engine Fully Steam or Soda Blasted.
-Rocker Cover & Manifold Polished or Painted Black (will decide at the time).
-Custom Stainless Steel Cold Air Intake Box & Piping for Podfilter.
-Flush Power Steering System & Refill.
-Flush Radiator & Refill with New Coolant & Water.
-Replace Thermostat.
-Upgrade/Replace Sparkplugs & Leads.
-Replace Fuel Filter & Oil Filter.
-Flush & Replace Brake Fluid.
-Flush & Refill Diff.

Suspension & Wheels Related:-

-All Springs Acid Dipped then Powdercoated 'BLACK'.
-Upgraded Front Spring Pads.
-Shorter Shocks 'all round'.
-Remove all Suspension Components (eg- Front Arms, Steering Arms, etc etc) and have Acid Dipped then Powdercoated 'BLACK'.
-Acid Dip then Repaint 14" Rims 'Gloss Black' with a Polished Lip + Centre Caps + Chrome Valve Caps.
-Brand New Brake Rotors & Pads x4.
-Acid Dip the 17s then repaint 'Gloss Black' (need 2 new tyres) and New Centre Caps + Chrome Valve Caps.
-Full Wheel Allignment & ALL Wheels Balanced (14s & 17s).


PHOTOS WILL BE UPDATED ON PAGE 3 Jobs are completed.

If you have any suggestions of what I should do (NOTHING major, only small jobs) then give me a comment. Or just post your comments about what you think so far of my Old Girl!

Checkout the new Car Club I am in!
NZ-BMW - www.bebo.com/nzbmw

Pages:
1-- YOU ARE HERE
2-- BEFORE & DURING PAINTING
3-- NOW
4-- MODIFICATIONS IN PROGRESS

Have got some Major plans for AFTER I sell my Honda Inspire (to raise some funds), but more info about that when the time comes.